Fandango fires up blood feud

It takes international sales on Marston's untitled drama

Fandango Portobello Sales has taken international sales on U.S. helmer Joshua Marston’s follow-up to Colombia-set drug tale “Maria Full of Grace,” an as-yet-untitled blood-feud drama set in Albania.

He is using a full-immersion method similar to the one he used on “Maria” to delve into the intricacies of Albania’s centuries-old blood-feud code of conduct, known as “kanun.”

Helmer has spent much of the past two years in Albania learning the language and talking to families affected by the practice.

Tale will turn on the lives of a teenage boy and his sister after a killing over a land dispute. The cast will be entirely Albanian.

Marston penned the screenplay with New York-based Albanian filmmaker Andamion Murataj. Shooting is due to start in Albania in April.

“More than a story about a blood feud, this is a film about the clash between the modern and the traditional, a conflict between two generations, and two kids growing into adults,” Marston said.

Film is being produced by Paul Mezey of New York-based Journeyman Pictures, who also produced “Maria.”

Portobello’s Janine Gold, Domenico Procacci and Eric Abraham are executive producing along with Hunter Gray and Tyler Brodie of Artists Public Domain (APD). Fandango and Phoenix Film Investments are co-financing with APD.

Marston’s “Maria,” starring Catalina Sandino Moreno as a drug mule, took nods for best first work and actress at the 2004 Berlinale as well as the audience award at Sundance.

At the European Film Market, Fandango Portobello is also selling Italo helmer Ferzan Ozpetek’s “Mine vaganti” (Loose Cannons), which world preems in Berlin’s Panorama Special, and Gabriele Muccino’s “The Last Kiss” sequel, “Kiss Me Again,” currently on release via Medusa in Italy, where it has scored $10 million in two weeks.